Monday-Thursday: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Friday: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Detroit Dover Animal Hospital Inc
27366 Detroit Rd
Westlake, OH 44145
Phone: (440)871-5220
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Hours Monday-Thursday: 8:00am - 8:00pm Friday: 8:00am - 6:00pm Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm Sunday: Closed |
Location Detroit Dover Animal Hospital Inc 27366 Detroit Rd Westlake, OH 44145 Phone: (440)871-5220 |
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| Pocket Pets The term "Pocket pet" refers to rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, and mice. These small, cute, inexpensive soft balls of fluff can be just as much fun as a dog or cat and require just as much attention and care. They have specific dietary, housing and handling requirements. Just like cats and dogs, pocket pets should visit the veterinarian annually for a checkup. Though they don't require vaccinations, they should be weighed and examined for signs of any problems. Most of the Pocket pets are rodents. Rodents' teeth continuously growth throughout their lives, if their teeth don't line up correctly they will not file themselves down while chewing which can become a serious problem. Your pet's doctor can diagnose this problem and help treat it. Pocket pets' entire lives encompass only two to eight years, so they age at a high rate and can go through changes in one year that equal what a human can go through in forty. Regular veterinary check-ups are particularly important for small animals, because their health can change quickly. A safe, comfortable home is one of the most important things you can provide for your furry friend. The correct size for your pet can vary: mice and hamsters require the least space, guinea pigs, and rabbits require the most. The cage should be large enough for pets to move freely and exercise, change their posture (most need room to stand on their hind legs), and be able to reach food and water easily. Cages should be clean and well ventilated; secure against cats, dogs, or other predators; and free of sharp edges. They should be made out of coated stainless steel, or durable plastic that is easy to clean and resistant to chewing. They should also have a solid bottom: wire mesh floors can put an uncomfortable and dangerous amount of pressure on animals' feet. Pocket pets love to gnaw, and they can easily destroy or escape from a poorly constructed home. Your pocket pet needs some nice, soft bedding as well, to curl up in and nest. It is not recommended to use cedar savings or saw dust as bedding. Instead recycled newspaper products such as "Carefresh" are the best choices. Change the bedding twice a week to be sure it stays clean and dry. Once a week, empty the cage and clean and disinfect it with a solution of one part bleach to thirty parts water. If your pet uses a litter box, be sure to clean it daily. You can enrich your pet's environment and keep him comfortable and active with a number of accessories. A "hide box"--a small box, tube, or other enclosed area where your pet can conceal himself, will make him feel safe and comfortable. Plastic tunnels, wheels, hollow rolling balls with latching lids, and other toys are available that can let your pet exercise. Make sure your pet is safe and can't get trapped inside or catch his feet or tail on a seam or a corner. Also make sure that the toys are made out of metal or durable plastic so your furry friend can't chew and ingest them Fresh, high-quality commercial pellets or feed blocks, designed for each species of pocket pet, provide the most complete nutrition. They are widely available at pet stores and some grocery or drug stores. They are made from seeds and grains ground together in the right proportion to give your pet the protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber he needs. Seed mixes are made out of many of the same ingredients as pellets, but they do not make good staple diets. Much like people with junk food, pets will pick out and eat the seeds that taste good to them, generally choosing the ones that are highest in fat and lowest in nutrients. This can lead to malnutrition, skin problems, and obesity. Similar problems come from prepackaged treats, which are often designed to tempt you by looking like human snack food. These treats are made with high-fat seeds and lots of sugar. For a healthier treat, you can supplement your small pet's diet with fresh fruits and vegetables three to five times per week. If you decide to change your pet's diet, it's best to do it gradually. Sudden dietary changes can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. Also, be sure to feed your pet pellets made specifically for its species. Different kinds of pocket pets have very different nutritional needs. All pocket pets should have fresh, clean water available to them 24 hours a day. With the exception of rabbits, all pocket pets do best with a sipper bottle hung from the side of the cage, as bowls of water left on the floor of the cage can quickly get contaminated with bedding and feces. The sipper tube should be made out of metal or heavy plastic so that it can't be chewed or shattered. Rabbits tend to clog the tubes of sipper bottles, so they should be given water in heavy ceramic or steel bowls that they can't tip over. As cute as they are, and as much as you want to cuddle them, you should use some care when you handle your pocket pets. They should be approached slowly and never startled, as they can nip when frightened. Mice, hamsters, and gerbils should be held in the palms of your cupped hands. Guinea pigs and rats should be lifted up with one hand wrapped around the shoulders and one hand supporting the back of the body. Rabbits have a particularly light skeleton and need to be handled very carefully. Hold them under the chest with one hand and support their hind legs with the other. If they struggle or kick, put them down until they are calmer, as they can seriously injure their spines. Pocket pets are often considered good starter pets for kids, but inexperienced children can mishandle or be too rough with these delicate animals. Supervise children until they gain experience caring for their new pet, as frightened animals can bite or scratch. Also, encourage children to sit on the floor with pets while they're holding them, to avoid any dropped or fallen animals. Only a pelleted complete diet (with at least 16 percent quality protein and a box labeled "meets NRC requirements" or a similar message) should be used as a primary diet. . Conventional (natural ingredient) pet animal diets produced by reputable companies usually contain adequate balanced nutritional components, but even those diets can be altered by damp, heat, oxidation, and vermin contamination. Owner-compounded diets, on the other hand, are more likely than are commercial products to lack certain trace nutrients, to be unbalanced, or to be contaminated with bacteria or mold. Lean more about caring for your guinea pig Lean more about caring for your rabbit (Excerpted from Essentials of Pet Rodents: A Guide for Practitioners by John E. Harkness, DVM, MS, Med. Published by AAHA Press, 1997.) Portions copied with permission from the American Animal Hospital Association. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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